Patent GB-1392080-A (GB)
Title: Hay making machines
IPC: A01D78/10
Filed: 1972-06-27
Abstract: 1392080 Hay makers J R SCHLITTER 27 June 1972 [23 July 1971] 30032/72 Heading A1F A variable geometry haymaker for performing various raking functions has four rotary rake heads 7, 7', 10, 10' which are rotatably driven about associated spindles 6, 6', 6", 6"' by means of the towing vehicles power takeoff, and are moveable between a first working position in which these spindles are in transverse alignment and a second working position in which the two inner heads 10, 10' trail the two outer heads 7, 7', and are spaced further apart than the first position, and in which the rotary sense of these inner heads is reversed. The overall width of the machine can be reduced for transport purposes. Each rake head has a plurality of arms carrying crop engaging tines that are either rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes under the influence of a control mechanism, or are held fast, depending upon the desired raking function. In the first position the haymaker can operate either as a tedder in which case the arms are held fast and the left/right hand rotary rake pairs 7, 10, and 7', 10' counter rotate in directions U, V about their respective spindles, or as a swath timer in which case the arms are actuated by the control mechanism. Alternatively, in this first position, the haymaker can form two narrow swaths 18, 18' by adjusting the two rake heads of each pair to form a space between their tine paths 13, and the control mechanism so that the tines deposit crop therebetween. In the second position the haymaker forms a large swath by adjusting the two inner heads 10, 10' so that their tine paths 13 are spaced apart by substantially the width of the swath to be formed, and the control mechanism so that the tines of the inner heads 10, 10' compliment those of the outer heads 7, 7'. Four embodiments are disclosed. In the first embodiment, (Fig. 1) the outer rake heads 7, 7' are rotatably mounted on arms 5, 5' pivoted at the outer ends of side frames 3, 3' so that the arms and hence heads 7, 7' can be held in at least two positions relative to the inner heads 10, 10' and driven from a main drive 9 via extendable drive shafts 8, 8'. The inner rake heads 10, 10' are rotatably mounted on arms 11, 11' which can turn about a vertical pin 12 on an articulated beam 4 and are driven from the drive 9 via shaft 14, pulley 15 and chains or belts in the housings 16, 16'. Instead of reversing the direction of rotation of the inner rake heads 10, 10' when changing to the second position, the arms 11, 11' can be both swung in the same direction so that the two rotors are transposed (Fig. 2 not shown) and hence have the desired rotary sense. The side frames 3, 3' are rotatably mounted on a column 2 so that they can be swung about this column in order that the outer rotors 10', 10' lie to the rear of the inner rotors 7, 7' and hence reduce the overall width of the machine for transport purposes (Fig. 3 not shown). The machine may also be towed by means of a draw bar 22 and supported in this case by ground Wheels 23. In a second embodiment (Fig. 4) the inner rake heads 10, 10' are moved between the two positions by a frame member 24 slidable in the direction of operative travel and held in at least two positions. The distance between the two heads 10, 10' is adjusted by extendable arms 25 and 25'. In the third embodiment Fig. 5 the left and right hand rake pairs 7, 10, and 7', 10' are mounted on extendable frame bars 26, 26' having vertical pivots 27, 27' at their mid length to which extendable, transverse frame elements 28 are connected. Movement between the two operating positions is effected by turning the frame bars 26, 26' about the pivots 27, 27' and locking them in position. Swivel joints with pins substantially parallel to the ground and extending fore and aft may be fitted at the pivots 27 and 27' to cater for ground irregularities. In the fourth embodiment (Fig. 6 not shown) the rake pairs are mounted on similar frame bars 26, 26' which are rotatably connected at their pivots 27, 27' to forwardly extending frame elements which are pivotally connected at . their other ends to a transverse main frame. In the second, third and fourth embodiments, the direction of rotation of the two inner rake heads has to be reversed when the machine is to be used in the second operating condition whilst for transport the extendable frame members are reduced to a minimum length. In the third and fourth embodiments the effective width of the machine is further reduced by rotating the rake pairs so that they lie parallel to the direction of operative travel.